Today we will look at 10 interesting facts about
Jack Russell Terriers you need to know!
Jack Russell Terriers are well known for
their classic white and tan coats as well As their insatiably high energy levels. Even
so, there's probably a lot you still need to Learn about these wonderful small dogs. They may be small dogs, but they have Huge personalities. They are
also blisteringly intelligent, Which makes them quite straightforward to train.
This breed loves to learn and perform tricks, And they are the dictionary definition of "cute
little dog." Jack Russell Terriers are also Endlessly sociable and unquestioningly adorable. This is a dog that will happily partake in any Adventure, and as you will see,
they are well suited to it!
Now onto the facts about these dogs that
will surely leave you amazed!
Fact number 1: They are hard workers!
Bred originally for fox hunting in the First half of the 19th century, these dogs
are still recognized as a working breed.
This classification means they are not legible
as competitors in dog shows because no rigorous Morphological standards need to be kept for
the dog to be considered a pedigree breed.
Their categorization is maintained largely
through the striving of Jack Russell kennel Clubs around the world to preserve them as
working dogs and avoid allowing breeders To emphasize their looks instead of their
other valuable traits and characteristics. The initiative to keep Jack Russells good at
their jobs also protects them from inherited Diseases that are so common in other small
pedigree breeds as their healthiest traits are Improved instead of just aesthetic ones. In general, Jack Russells are hunting Dogs. To be specific, they're actually
baying terriers. You may be wondering: What is a baying terrier? Essentially
it means they are hunting companions That will chase down and circle prey
to keep them cornered in one place. Jack Russells will also bark constantly
to keep any animals from trying to escape, As well as alert their owners
that they've cornered a quarry. From there, the hunters can
come and make the final catch.
It is this natural ability to work that
gets them so many jobs around the world In different professions. Fact number 2: They are quick thinkers! Jack Russells are very intelligent and have a
strong drive to explore the world around them. Although this does mean they tend to excel at
various training exercises, they also have to be Intellectually and physically stimulated all day
long, at least until they get quite old anyway.
These aren't dogs that will just sit quietly in
the corner and contemplate the finer intricacies Of squirrel chasing. They will tirelessly
pursue real-life squirrels and give them a Run for their acorns. When left to their own
machinations, especially indoors, they are
Well known for wreaking havoc when bored.
It is for that reason that they must be Well-trained from an early age and kept interested
and entertained at all times. An obvious testament To their brains is how many Jack Russell terriers
are employed as actors in movies and on TV. It is Simply because learning tricks and complex
routines is easy and fun for them.
Fact number 3: They are full of energy!
As they are bred to be hunting dogs, Jack Russells are curious, agile, and have
plenty of stamina. They are, without a doubt, Ideally suited for the great outdoors and
all the adventures that it brings them. These dogs can run around, sniff,
and play for hours on end and will Expect you to join in the fun.
Despite their diminutive size, They are a robust and nimble breed made for
long chases after prey over various rough Terrain. This means it's best to put up a high
fence around your yard to ensure that they don't Wander off or start chasing some animal up and
down the road where they could hurt themselves.
It shouldn't be a surprise that dogs made for
hunting foxes also love to dig. Their small Stature is perfect for following the prey in
their underground homes and chasing them out. Unfortunately, that means that they can also
dig up your backyard at a moment's notice, So that fence should probably
go underground a fair way too.
All in all, their endless energy and both
physical and psychological traits make them Perfect contestants in endurance, agility,
flyball, and earth-dog trials.
Fact number 4: They are canine celebrities! When it comes to all the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, there are plenty of dog
breeds that come to mind. However, None are quite as accomplished and famous as the
Jack Russell Terrier. This breed is incredibly Popular in the film and TV world. In The Mask,
Jim Carrey's canine companion Milo was a Russell, As was Gene Hackman's pet in Crimson Tide.
What's more, the titular Wishbone from PBS's children's show were Russell terriers.
Possibly one of the best-known was Eddie from The long-running tv series "Frasier," who was so
popular he even made Keelsy Grammar jealous. In fact, a Jack Russell named "Uggie"
became the first ever dog to lay his paw Print on the highly exclusive Walk of Fame. Additionally, in 2011, the same dog won the Cannes Festival's Palm Dog Award, which is kind
of like the canine equivalent of the Oscars.
Uggie's highly decorated career featured roles
in Mr. Fix It, Wassup Rockers, The Artists, and The award-winning Water For Elephants, in which
the dog starred alongside Reese Witherspoon.
Ultimately, Hollywood's top dog won several awards
before finally retiring to days filled with tasty Treats and plenty of scratchies.
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Fact number 5: They are a New Zealand favorite!
Time and time again, creative TV commercials
starring dogs have always had tremendous success. But in New Zealand, there was one Jack Russell
Terrier that became an overnight hit after being Featured in his first commercial in 1991.
The beloved Jack Russell Terrier was named "Spot," which was actually an acronym
for "Services and Products of Telecom." As you may have already guessed, he was the
newest corporate mascot for Telecom New Zealand.
Spot the Jack Russell ended up being so popular
that he was featured in 43 Telecom commercials That ran for almost a decade – from 1991
to 1998. Amazingly, the only reason Telecom Stopped airing these commercials was out of
respect for Spot when he passed away in 1999.
Even so, the presence of Spot on primetime
television gave a huge boost to the positive Image of the breed. Today, Jack Russell Terriers
are still one of the most popular dog breeds in New Zealand, and it is all thanks to Spot! Fact number 6: They have big personalities!
Many people say that when you get a Jack Russell,
you get a 150-pound dog personality in a 15-pound Dog body. They love to assert themselves
on others and aren't afraid of anything or Anyone. They are also regular divas and love to
have everybody's attention all for themselves.
As all divas do, they will often get upset
if something isn't going according to their Plan – be patient and let them know that they
can't always have everything the way they want it, And everything will be alright. Just remember
that you are partners and need to work together.
You should also note that they are fearless,
and you should definitely watch out that they Don't get in trouble with other, often much
larger dogs. All these character traits can be Influenced and changed through regular training
and socialization from an early age. Even so, You'll never quench their enthusiasm or
boisterous and willful nature. Fact number 7. They all have a common ancestor!
This breed was solely devised by a man named John Russell – a reverend from Devon, England. The story goes that his favorite pastime was fox Hunting, so John was constantly looking for
terriers with the agility, size, and energy To serve as his ideal hunting companion.
However, in 1819, John eventually stumbled Upon a British White Terrier named "Trump."
He was actually his milk delivery man's dog. John would go on to crossbreed this
pooch with several other dogs to Create the blueprint for what we know
today as the modern Jack Russell that.
And while we don't really know exactly what
other dog breeds were crossbred with Trump, We do know that it was a variety of white terrier
hunting breeds, many of which are extinct today. So, if you own or plan to get a Jack Russell
Terrier, you actually have reverend John Russell To thank! Without the stars aligning and this
one man meeting this one dog, we probably would
Not have the Jack Russell Terrier today. Fact number 8: They have an insane vertical leap!
There's absolutely no denying the incredibly high
energy levels of the Jack Russell Terrier. They Love to run, and they love to play. But did
you know these dogs are the Michael Jordans Of the canine world!? They are well known
for their extraordinary vertical jump? In fact, Jack Russells can propel themselves
into the air at five times their own height! This means if your dog is 12 inches tall, they
can potentially jump five feet into the air! For reference, the Guinness Book of Records for
the highest jump by a dog was 75.5 inches. This Record was set by a Greyhound. Yet, Greyhounds
are around 28 inches tall – so they probably Can't even jump three times their own height. The ability to leap straight up 5 times their own Height makes the Jack Russell Terrier the breed
with the highest vertical jump relative to dog Size in the world. ===
What's your favorite fact
about Jack Russell Terriers? Let us know in the comments and share
your thoughts with other enthusiasts!
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Fact number 9: They're excellent snake detectors!
Have you ever seen one of those videos of Jack
Russells taking on wild garden snakes? While Most dogs would inevitably get their legs or
muzzle bitten, the Jack Russell is known to Be an active snake hunter with the agility to
smoothly avoid potentially venomous strikes.
Now, we would never suggest you allow your Jack
Russell to go after a snake. But it's interesting To know that they are better equipped to
avoid snake bites than any other dog.
More importantly, they have the instinct
to back up hunting small moving animals, Including snakes. This, combined with their
incredible reflexes, excellent agility, And impressive leaping ability, mean you
have yourself the ultimate snake dog.
As a result, this breed has quickly become
the top pick as a snake detector dog. The Best example is that when brown tree snakes
were accidentally introduced to Guam, they Began to severely damage the native ecosystem,
so the US Department of Agriculture decided the Best thing to do was send in 17 trained Jack
Russells to help capture over 8,000 snakes! If that doesn't make this breed a tough
cookie in your eyes, nothing will. Fact number 10: They have
traveled from pole to pole!
Although it seems almost unbelievable, a
Jack Russell named "Bothie" is, to date, The only dog in the world to have paw
prints on both the North and South poles! So exactly how did this globe-trotting
dog achieve such a feat? Well, in 1979, English explorers Sir Ranulph
Fiennes and Ginny Fiennes decided to take an Epic multi-continent, trans-global
trip around the world. They also Elected to bring their two-year-old Jack
Russell Terrier with them the whole way.
The adventure was a great success, but
while Jack Russells do enjoy cold weather, Bothie still required a special red polar suit
and boots to help keep him warm at the poles. The journey took three years in total
and after a 52,000-mile journey, news Quickly started spreading about their fantastic
canine companion that had accomplished more than Most travelers would do in their lifetime.
Tremendous things came for Bothie after the Epic trip. England's Kennel Club voted him "Pet
of the Year," and his legacy was firmly cemented Into the Guinness Book of World Records. There
were even life-sized toys and posters being made Of Bothie in his signature red polar jacket.
If that wasn't enough, Ginny Fiennes published A book about their adventures titled "Bothie
the Polar Dog" which helped document the Many experiences this terrier had that
most little dogs could only dream of, Including a run-in with Arctic wolves!
It just goes to show that Jack Russells Really are a very remarkable breed
and one well worth learning about.
